This article has been updated with a statement from UNT.
Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating the University of North Texas because of its unsatisfactory handling of left-wing violence. Paxton called again for UNT President Harrison Keller to expel students who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s murder.
Paxton’s letter referenced the harassment of UNT’s Turning Point USA chapter on September 18, radical leftist groups promoting “violent rhetoric” after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the university not disciplining students who celebrated Kirk’s murder, and its reluctance to protect the student who opposed such celebration, Mary-Catherine Hallmark.
Paxton also wrote that the Denton Student Union had identified itself as a chapter of the Revolutionary Student Union, “a national Marxist organization,” and that the “American Iron Front” appeared to be active at UNT.
“The American Iron Front claims Republicans are pursuing a fascist agenda and it promotes ‘direct action’ against ‘authoritarian and anti-democracy groups,’” Paxton wrote.
Paxton first wrote to Keller about Hallmark on September 19.
Hallmark opposed a celebration of Kirk’s murder in class on September 10 and claimed there were more. Afterward, she was harassed and threatened. Hallmark and her mother, Randee, complained about UNT police not protecting her. On September 29, UNT police agreed to protect Mary-Catherine, though Randee Hallmark told Texas Scorecard the police did so begrudgingly for two weeks and only after public pressure.
Paxton demanded Keller investigate Hallmark’s allegations that Mary-Catherine’s classmates celebrated Kirk’s murder. According to Paxton, Keller had assured him UNT would follow state and federal laws, and discipline those students to the fullest extent.
“Despite those assurances, public reporting indicates that radical leftist violence has continued to persist with no resistance from the university.” Paxton wrote Keller. “To my knowledge, none of the agitator students who were under investigation for celebrating Mr. Kirk’s death have been disciplined. In fact, new allegations suggest that the university continues to engage in viewpoint discrimination.”
Now, Paxton directed his office to investigate UNT’s general strategy for addressing left-wing violence on campus. “Groups that promote violence cannot be allowed at Texas universities, and I will pursue every legal option to stop them.”
Paxton also implored Keller to expel students who celebrated Kirk’s murder.
Leadership at Texas State University and Texas Tech announced that students who engaged in similar celebrations are no longer enrolled.
Randee Hallmark called out UNT for failing to address the issues her daughter has faced and for ignoring Paxton. “This is a complete and total failure by President Keller, the UNT Regents, the administrative staff, the professor involved, and the university as a whole,” Randee Hallmark stated. “We will pursue every possible avenue to make sure President Keller is held accountable, the professor is fired, and the student responsible is expelled. Our daughter deserves justice—and we will not stop until she gets it.” She also is seeking to hold UNT police accountable “for the harm they have allowed—and caused—to our daughter.”
UNT is a component of the University of North Texas System. The UNT system is overseen by a Board of Regents appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
“The University of North Texas holds the safety of its students as a primary responsibility and takes the allegations reported to Attorney General Paxton seriously,” the university stated. “UNT will cooperate fully with the Attorney General’s investigation, and will continue the university’s thorough review of the matter while respecting the confidentiality of those processes.”
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